You can make plain rice any day of the week, but with a few extra items (many you probably already have in your pantry) you can take an ordinary side-dish and turn it into something a bit more interesting.

Cooking the rice in tomato juice adds a deep flavor to the base of this recipe. Add to that the salty capers and robust sun-dried tomatoes so it takes on a lighter note. And, finally, who can resist the taste of an artichoke heart, which rounds out this dish.

Mediterranean Rice

Summary: A flavorful vegetarian rice dish with an Italian flair.

By: Megabeth

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup tomato juice

1 cup rice

1 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

2 Tablespoons marinated sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup black olives, drained and chopped

2 Tablespoons capers

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tablespoon pine nuts

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Bring water and tomato juice to a boil.

Add rice, cover and reduce to a simmer.
Cook for about 15 – 20 minutes, until rice is done.